Gulf customers demand more than standard services, UK-GCC forum told
LONDON: International fintech companies risk struggling to establish themselves in Gulf markets if they assume strategies that worked in their home countries will translate directly to the region, business executives warned at the UK-GCC Strategic Dialogue. Companies seeking to expand in the Gulf m»»»
FTAV-Tunisie Telecom sign partnership agreement to boost digital transformation in tourism sector
TUNIS, Oct. 20, 2026 (TAP) - A partnership agreement between the Tunisian Federation of Travel and Tourism Agencies (FTAV) and Tunisie Telecom was signed on Tuesday in Tunis, with the aim of developing digital services and solutions for Tunisian...»»»
Curfews bring calm to Paris as France cracks down on weekend rioters
PARIS: Paris returned to calm on Tuesday after its first quiet night since a weekend marred by France’s most destructive rioting in years, as authorities imposed curfews in several cities in an effort to prevent another round of rioting and looting. At least 2,400 people were arrested after rioters»»»
French president arrives in Doha for state visit
DOHA: President of the French Republic HE Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Doha for a state visit. President Macron and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Hamad International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassa»»»
Supreme Court Postpones Hearings After Fire Damages Building and Court Files During Protests
The Supreme Court has postponed scheduled court hearings, except for urgent cases, after a fire during protests on October 17, 2026, caused material and infrastructure damage, including damage to judicial case files. In an official statement, the court said the incident had disrupted the conditions»»»
Italy’s Meloni to boost police arrest powers in response to weekend riots
ROME: Italy will approve new security measures on Tuesday targeting minors, politicians said, after days of unrest that have seen demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalize property. Under the crackdown, law enforcers will be allowed to detain people under the age of 18 at police sta»»»
Qatar, Austria hold round of political consultations
Vienna: A round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Austria was held in Vienna on Tuesday. The Qatari delegation was headed by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, while the Austrian »»»
Gulf customers demand more than standard services, UK-GCC Dialogue told
LONDON: International fintech companies risk struggling to establish themselves in Gulf markets if they assume strategies that worked in their home countries will translate directly to the region, business executives warned at the UK-GCC Strategic Dialogue. Companies seeking to expand in the Gulf m»»»
Hungary could lose EUR billions in compensation if Paks II project is cancelled, expert warns
Hungary could face claims worth several billion euros if it terminates its contract with Russia’s Rosatom to build the Paks II nuclear power plant, according to a Hungarian nuclear energy expert. The warning comes as the government considers the future of the project, with a decision expected by th»»»
Fahmy condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon, pledges Arab League support
LONDON: Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy condemned Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon during a visit on Tuesday. He called for Arab and international support to strengthen Lebanese institutions and help displaced residents return home. Fahmy visited the Benoit Barakat Barracks in Tyre wit»»»
SCO Nations Need to Prevent Erection of Trade Barriers - Chinese Premier
DUSHANBE (Sputnik) - Countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) need to simplify trade and investment procedures and prevent the erection of trade barriers in order to ensure stable and uninterrupted supply chains, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday. "It is important to step up »»»
Yemeni Military Media Posts Footage Showing Expulsion of Saudi-aligned Reinforcements from Jabal Han, West of Taiz City
Yemeni Military Media posted a footage showing expulsion of Saudi-aligned reinforcements from Jabal Han, west of Taiz city – October 20, 2026. Yemeni Military Media posts footage showing expulsion of Saudi-aligned reinforcements from Jabal Han, west of Taiz city – October 20, 2026 https://t.co/IMgq»»»
Rubio says Ukraine interceptors may not have been delivered, but not for political reasons
MUMBAI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday acknowledged that a batch of interceptors purchased for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program may not have been delivered, but that this was not because of any political intent. “I think the important takeaway is »»»
Power outage hits Google Cloud services, disrupting UK banks
LONDON: A power outage at a Google Cloud data center near London caused serious failures to services on Tuesday, leading to widespread disruptions for several UK banks. Google said in a service health update that most services had returned to normal by 1210 GMT, six hours after the incident began. »»»
Qatar calls for strengthening international cooperation to combat organised crime
VIENNA The State of Qatar affirmed that addressing transactional organised crime requires strengthening international cooperation, upholding multilateralism, and effectively implementing relevant international agreements, given the growing complexity of those crimes and their entanglement with corr»»»
HMC launches Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy service in Qatar
DOHA Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced the launch of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Arthroscopy service by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team at Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, marking a significant step in advancing specialized surgical services and providing patients wit»»»
Qatar, Austria hold round of political consultations
VIENNA: A round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Austria was held in Vienna on Tuesday. The Qatari delegation was headed by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, while the Austrian s»»»
French President arrives in Doha
Doha, Qatar: President of the French Republic HE Emmanuel Macron arrived in Doha on Tuesday evening for a state visit to the country. Upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport, His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for »»»
Israeli settlers torch Palestinian welcome sign amid olive harvest violence
LONDON: Israeli settlers burned a welcome sign at the entrance of Burqa, a village east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, amid an increase in violent attacks against Palestinians in October. Sayel Kanaan, head of the Burqa council, said settlers on Tuesday burned the monument by igniting tires»»»
Dutch Gas Reserves at Minimal Level Ahead of Winter - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Dutch state energy company Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) estimates natural gas storage facilities to be 64% full, which is the lowest level required ahead of the heating season, the NOS broadcaster reported on Tuesday. The Netherlands has reached the minimum target levels necess»»»
French Gov't to Deploy Military Personnel During Protests on Saturday - Interior Minister
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The French authorities will deploy military personnel to support police during large-scale protests planned for Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Tuesday. "We will deploy troops from the Sentinelle operation, naturally, to replace internal security forces, primari»»»
Russia to Help Oman Protect Its Territory - Shoigu
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia will assist Oman in promptly addressing issues related to the protection of its territory, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. "Today, the challenges involved in protecting Omani territory are of an entirely new nature … Therefore, these issue»»»
Rubio Discusses Energy Cooperation With Indian External Affairs Minister - State Dept.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has discussed energy cooperation with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the US Department of State said on Tuesday. "The Secretary and Minister discussed regional and global issues, including developments in the Middle»»»
Macron secures diesel deals on Gulf visit as fuel prices stoke unrest in France
French President Emmanuel Macron has obtained commitments to deliver an additional 200,000 tonnes of diesel per month from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a tour of the Gulf, his office said Tuesday as the French government scrambles to address a cost-of-living crisis that has fuelled u»»»
Perspective - France 'has to assist' Gulf states, diplomat says as Macron makes three-day visit
French President Emmanuel Macron is making a three-day visit to the Gulf states focused on fuel supplies and strategic ties. The French leader will first visit Kuwait before heading to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. The Elysée Palace said Macron would seek commitments for ad»»»
Indonesian anger builds over wildfires, toxic haze
JAKARTA: Indonesians protested in several cities on Tuesday, raging against wildfires and a toxic haze that has made thousands unwell for weeks on end in a crisis that has engulfed Southeast Asia. Demonstrations were called by students to display dissatisfaction with the government of President Pra»»»
Democratic Bulgaria Demands Extraordinary Parliamentary Sitting over Starlink Antenna Arson
Democratic Bulgaria (DB) called for an extraordinary parliamentary sitting to hear Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, and State Agency for National Security Chairman Plamen Tonchev on the measures taken in response to the arson attack on antennas used to communicate wit»»»
Shabwa deputy governor: Houthis supplied terrorist groups with drone technology
Fahd Al-Khulaifi, first deputy governor of Yemen’s Shabwa province, warned that the Houthi group has supplied some terrorist organizations with drone technology as part of what he described as ongoing cooperation between the two sides. His remarks came after a Houthi missile attack on Monday target»»»
Prosecutor's office dismisses criminal complaint filed against Vucic over pardons
BELGRADE - The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has dismissed a criminal complaint filed against now-former Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic by Democratic Party leader Srdjan Milivojevic over alleged abuse of office, Tanjug learns. The Prosecutor's Office concluded that Vucic had com»»»
Russia expands attacks on energy facilities to western Ukraine
KYIV: Russia has expanded strikes from eastern and central Ukraine to energy facilities in previously untargeted western regions, causing waves of blackouts, energy ministry officials and local authorities said on Tuesday. In October, before the start of the cold season, Russia resumed attacks on U»»»
ASEAN ministers meet in Philippines to tackle cybercrime, scam hubs
MANILA: Southeast Asia’s interior and security ministers met in Manila on Tuesday to jointly address cybercrime, human trafficking and online scams, a growing concern in the region. Over the past few years, Southeast Asia has been increasingly targeted as a hub for transnational organized crime and»»»
Dubai has a new radar, this time to flag health and safety risks
AI and mapping tech will help inspectors spot risks to public health and safety Dubai: Dubai has a new radar, and this one is built to spot risks to public health and safety before they become problems. Dubai Municipality is showcasing the Health and Safety Radar, an intelligent monitoring platform»»»
Deputy prime minister meets with South Sudan defence minister
DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani met with Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan HE Major General Ayor Akuoch Anok, and the accompanying delegation, during his visit to the Stat»»»
Drone attacks kill scores in Sudan's West Kordofan state and capital Khartoum
At least 80 people were killed in a drone strike near a market in Sudan’s southern West Kordofan state, a medical source and a witness said Monday, in one of the deadliest single attacks since the Sudan war erupted in 2023. A separate drone attack Monday in the capital Khartoum killed four, includi»»»
Anger at rising fuel prices bolsters Europe's far right as unrest sweeps France
Rising fuel costs are piling pressure on households, businesses and governments across Europe, fuelling cost-of-living protests and bolstering the far right ahead of elections next year in countries including France, Italy and Poland. Some far-right parties are calling for a return to Russian energ»»»
The Debate - Out of control? France stunned by October 17 rioting
France didn't just erupt on Saturday – it exploded. Police were doubly overwhelmed by the turnout of the October 17 cost-of-living demonstrations, which saw two and-a-half times the crowds they expected. Officers were also overwhelmed by determined flashmobs: some radical militants hellbent on»»»
Press Review - France imposes curfews after weekend violence, but is it too much or too little?
PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, October 20: We look at reactions from the French press after President Emmanuel Macron's government announces a curfew in parts of the country. Is it too much or not enough? We also look at what the foreign press from Britain, Germany and the US are saying about the wee»»»
'Very poor communicators: Macron & his govt fail to address 'genuine concerns of the French people'
Annette Young is pleased to welcome Dr Joseph Downing, Senior Lecturer International Relations and Politics at Aston University. French unrest raises questions about political accountability, police exhaustion and the increasingly confrontational relationship between citizens and the state. Downing»»»
Driver charged over 'targeted' car attack on Australian lawmaker Helen Haines
Police on Tuesday charged a driver with intentionally causing serious injury to Australian federal lawmaker Helen Haines, who is in a critical condition after being struck by a car outside her office in an incident that has shocked the nation. Haines had her leg amputated following the attack, acco»»»
Months-long Indonesia wildfires spew toxic haze across Southeast Asia
Parts of southern Southeast Asia have been put under the highest-level haze alert as wildfires that have swept Indonesia for months continue to belch toxic smoke across the region. The seasonal wildfires are worse this year due to the drought conditions caused by a severe "super-El Nino" effec»»»
Driver charged with intentionally injuring Australian federal lawmaker
MELBOURNE: Police on Tuesday charged a driver with intentionally causing serious injury to an Australian federal lawmaker who is in critical condition after being struck by a car in an apparent escalation in political violence that has shocked the nation. Helen Haines, a 65-year-old independent pol»»»
GDRFA Dubai's award highlights leadership-driven transformation in government services
The Red Carpet project reflects Dubai’s drive to transform travel experiences Dubai: Dubai’s Red Carpet project has won recognition in the Government Projects category at the Dubai-it Awards, highlighting the emirate’s push to transform the travel experience through advanced technology, artificial »»»
IAEA commends UAE emergency response at Barakah plant
IAEA highlights UAE's nuclear safety measures and emergency readiness Abu Dhabi: Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commended the United Arab Emirates’ robust emergency preparedness and response capabilities during an advisory mission to the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP»»»
Deputy prime minister holds bilateral meetings on the sidelines of World Security Forum activities
DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdul Rahman bin Hassan Al Thani held several bilateral meetings with a number of senior international officials on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Security Forum currently taking place in the Qatari capital,»»»
Vucic speaks to Russian YouTube channel about pressure on Serbia, elections
BELGRADE - Aleksandar Vucic, who heads the Aleksandar Vucic-United Serbia electoral list for the October 25 early parliamentary polls in Serbia, has spoken to the Russian Ostorozhno: Sobchak YouTube channel about pressure on Serbia, upcoming elections in the country and global geopolitical relation»»»
Judicial warrants issued for two Hezbollah officials in explosives case
A Lebanese judge on Tuesday ordered two Hezbollah officials to appear for questioning over their alleged involvement in a delivery of explosives seized by authorities this month, a judicial official told AFP. Lebanese authorities had been carrying out investigations after arresting two suspected He»»»
Report: Hezbollah warned army and security forces against raiding Dahieh depots
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have asked the army and security agencies to “prepare for military and security-related operations in Dahieh, Beirut, the Bekaa and the South” targeting Hezbollah, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday. “Information began leak»»»
Romania has a new government: Luca Niculescu’s cabinet has been approved by Parliament
At the end of the debates in the Parliament, the Prime Minister-designate took the floor once more, stating that he wished to lead a government that would restore order to a state “which has all too often given the impression that it operates more for its own sake than for the citizen.” “Criticism,»»»
Alberta referendum: Oil-rich province votes to remain part of Canada
The oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta has voted to remain part of the country, with most voters rejecting a proposal to move toward an independence referendum, national broadcaster CBC reported on Tuesday. The vote comes amid purported contacts between pro-independence activists and US official»»»
Trump warns of France-style unrest in US if Democrats win midterms
US President Donald Trump has claimed that America could face similar chaos to the violent unrest sweeping France if the Democrats win next month’s midterm elections, accusing left-wing politicians of fueling mass migration and instability across the West. France has struggled to contain escalating»»»